The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-03-02
ENGLAND'S STRONGHOLD.
Life in the Great Fortress of
Gibraltar.
Galleries in the Rock and Their Uses-The
Line Dividing England From Span
ish SOil-"North Front"
and Its Doings.

The rock of Gibraltar is pierced
toward its southern part, at LOO feet
above the level of the sea, with numer-
Gus excavations that form complete
network of natural galleries so pro-
found and intricate that, though they
have often been explored, the extrem-
ity of them has never been discovered.
From place to place these galleries
broaden ont into vast halls, the vaults
of which, supported by natural pillars,
are formed of stalactites that throw
out thousand rays at the least light.
The best known and the most accessi-
ble-the Grotto of st. Michael
reached by an almost imperceptible
entrance, and which, few feet from
its opening, forms an immense hall 220
feet long and &C feet high, is the place
often chosen by the authorities of Glib
raltar when they wish to honor q dis
tinguished guest, to offer him a lun-
cheon, q dinner, or fete.
To this network of natural galleries,
which at certain places serve for am
munition magazines, the English at the
north flank of the rock. which forms a
perpendicular wall 1900 feet high,
have joined the two celebrated artifi-
cial galleries followed out by convicts
during the siege of 1880. which, one
above the other, shelter the most
famous batteries in the world. From a
military view, however, these batteries
have lost much of their value since the
recent progress in modern artillery.
Guns of the largest caliber can not be
used because of the severe shock given
by the defamation to this part of the
rock. A few years ago, while one of
the batteries was firing salute during
strong wind-storm, a burning piece
of tow was blown into the interior,
which ignited a caisson of ammunition,
the explosion of which blew the gun and
the artillerymen out through the en-
brasure. Since that time these batteries
are used with great precaution. They
remain the principal attraction at
Gibraltar, the great object of interest
for tourists. The upper gallery, where
all the batteries are covered, is easily
visited, but with permit from the
military authority and under the con-
duct of an artilleryman. The interior
gallery, where most of the batteries
are uncovered, is less accessible to the
public. To enter it special permit is
necessary from the Governor, which is
obtained only in very exceptional
cases.
The narrow tongue of land that unites
Gibraltar to Spain is about LOO
yards wide by 1920 yards long. 1t is
plain of sand, destitute of vegeta-
ton, save few aloe trees. 1t is divid-
ed in its length into two nearly equal
parts. The one that adjoins the rock
belongs to the English, who call it the
North 'front.'" This is where the
reviews take place, the exercises of
the garrison, the horse races; and here,
too, is the cemetery and the abattoir
where are slaughtered the meager
Morocco cattle eaten by the inmates of
the fortress. A line of English senti-
nels, posted $50 feet apart and easily
recognized at distance by the white
umbrellas fixed in the sand, under
which they shelter themselves from the
sun, indicates the limits of English soil.
From that point to the Spanish frontier
it is neutral ground, on which no one,
not even civilian, is permitted to set
foot. At its other extremity a line OF
Entertainments fallen into ruin marks
the Spanish line. 1t is guarded by a
Gordon of sentinels, and day and night
the English and Spanish soldiers, sepa-
rated by distance of 1000 feet pace
back and forth, eyeing each other as
sharply as if their countries were at
war.
During the day the ''North 'front.' is
the liveliest place in Gibraltar, for in
the city, hung like ladder against the
western side of the rock, there are no
level surfaces. All the exercises dear
to the English, like polo, tennis, and
cricket, can find the necessary space
only in this exterior field. From morn
ing till night this plain, then, is
the theater of all English activity
The spectacle, on the Queens birth
day especially, is always imposing. In
the afternoon of this day the 1000 men
composing the garrison leave the city
to be reviewed on the North front. Al
two o'clock the Governor departs at
tended by his staff. A platoon pre-
aeses him comprising twenty officers IN